What Exactly Is A Rebbe?

Editor's note: The following is a free translation of a letter written by the Rebbe several months after the passing of his father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch. The letter was printed as an introduction to a booklet of maamarim (discourses of Chassidic teaching) by Rabbi YosefYitzchak.1

By the Grace of G‑d
3 Tammuz, 5710 [June 18, 1950]
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Many seek and propose to explain the qualities and greatness of Chabad Rebbes in general, and, in particular, the Rebbe of our generation, my father-in-law, hareini kaparat mishkavo,2 in various areas: as a man of self-sacrifice, Torah genius, lofty character, prophetic ability, miracle-worker, etc., etc.

These qualities are further magnified when viewed in the light of Chassidic teaching, which explains what is true self-sacrifice, true Torah genius, and so on.

And yet, none of this addresses the primary quality of the Rebbe—a quality which is not only primary in essence, but which is most important to us, his chassidim and followers, namely: the fact that he is a nassi, and particularly a Chabad nassi.

A nassi, broadly defined, is a "head of the multitudes of Israel."3 He is their "head" and "mind," their source of life and vitality. Through their attachment to him, they are bound and united with their source on high.

There are several types of nesi'im: those who supply their constituents with "internalized" nurture,4 and those whose nurture is of a more "encompassing" nature.5 This is further divisible into the particulars of whether they impart the teaching of the "revealed" part of Torah, its mystical secrets, or both; whether they offer guidance in the service of G‑d and the ways of Chassidism; whether they draw down material provision; and so on.

There are also nesi'im who are channels in several of these areas, or even in all of them.

Such was the nature of the leadership of the nesi'im of Chabad, from the Alter Rebbe6 to, and including, my father-in-law, who embraced all these categories and areas: they nurtured their chassidim in both the "internal" and the "encompassing" qualities of their souls; in Torah, divine service and good deeds; in spirit and in body. Thus, their bond with those connected with them was in all 613 limbs and organs of their souls and bodies.

Each and every one of us must know—that is, dwell upon and implant the awareness in his or her mind—that the Rebbe is our nassi and head: that he is the source and channel for all our material and spiritual needs, and that it is through our bond with him (and he has already instructed us in his letters how and by what means this is achieved) that we are bound and united with our source, and the source of our source, up to our ultimate source on high.

I thought we Jews don't need an intermediary between us and G-D?
Reply

Simcha Bart for Chabad.org June 10, 2018

in response to Naava:

This is indeed true - we do not need any intermediary between us and G-d, as we are considered G-d's children who emanate from the Essence of G-d, just as a child comes from the very essence of their parent. Yet the entire Jewish people are mystically referred to as one body, and just as a body has a head, a trunk, and other limbs and organs, so too the Rebbe, or the Moses of one's generation, is like the head which directs the rest of the body, and communicates on behalf of the body to the One Above, and is a conduit for vitality from Above to the Jewish People.

In the terms of Chassidic philosophy, this is known as a "Memutzah Hamechaber"' - an intermediary who connects. For an in-depth treatment of this subject, please read this article which addresses the very question you ask.
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